Keane Is Fit And Ready To Lead Ireland

Manchester United skipper Roy Keane will be ready to lead the Republic of Ireland in their quest for World Cup glory in the first leg of their crucial play-off against Iran at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Manchester United skipper Roy Keane will be ready to lead the Republic of Ireland in their quest for World Cup glory in the first leg of their crucial play-off against Iran at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Sunderland winger Kevin Kilbane also looks certain to be available after a quick recovery from an ankle injury.

"Everyone knows Roy Keane's burning ambition is to lead Ireland to the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea next summer," said Republic boss Mick McCarthy.

"Roy is fine just now. He will be receiving continuous treatment on his knee injury from the Old Trafford medical staff before he links up with the rest of the panel in Dublin on Thursday."

McCarthy paid tribute to United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Sunderland's Peter Reid after their assistance regarding the injuries to Keane and Kilbane.

He added: "Like every other English club boss, Alex and Peter have been very supportive - they know just how much this game means to Ireland.

"David Jones at Wolves has kept us informed on Mark Kennedy's hamstring problem.

"Mark won't be here on Saturday, but we can talk to David in the next few days about the possibility of Kennedy being available for the return leg in Tehran the following Thursday."

Iran arrive in Dublin tomorrow with extrovert Croatian coach Miroslav Blazevic having already organised two training sessions over the next 48 hours at the Carlisle ground, home of Premier Division side Bray Wanderers.

He said: "Everyone can come and see us, the press and the public. We have nothing to hide and we'll be the underdogs."

Iranian officials have assured the FAI everyone travelling to Iran on the official flight for the second leg on November 15 will be granted entry visas. That flight leaves Dublin on Monday, December 12.

Female supporters will be allowed to watch the game inside Tehran's 110,000-capacity stadium for the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution - but only if they are Irish.

Women are banned from Iranian football games, apparently to protect them from the bad language.

Crowd noise is turned down to a minimum during live TV coverage to ensure women viewers at home are not offended.

An Iranian spokesperson said the Irish do not speak the local language, Farsi, so they will not understand the remarks which most Iranian men use during the matches.

But the Irish have been warned there would be no relaxation on the rule banning alcohol in Iran.